WN Eyes Other 'Aircraft Types'
Aug 13, 2019, 6:59 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,509
WN Eyes Other 'Aircraft Types'
Seattle Times / Dominic Gates
Spokeswoman Beth Harbin said, “Southwest has no current plans to pursue or introduce a new fleet type.”
This screams Hawaii inter-island.
The airline’s management has proposed new language in the contract with its flight-attendants union that would grant it the flexibility “to fly more narrowbody aircraft types.”
Southwest management told the union, TWU Local 556, in a proposal this month that the ability to operate aircraft other than the 737 “would give us the flexibility … to better compete and grow.”
“We are flying to more destinations that vary in distance, size and seasonality,” the company’s proposal states. “This change would allow us to fly aircraft types that are better suited for some of the markets we serve.”
Southwest management told the union, TWU Local 556, in a proposal this month that the ability to operate aircraft other than the 737 “would give us the flexibility … to better compete and grow.”
“We are flying to more destinations that vary in distance, size and seasonality,” the company’s proposal states. “This change would allow us to fly aircraft types that are better suited for some of the markets we serve.”
This screams Hawaii inter-island.
Aug 14, 2019, 8:34 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 47
They have to be trained for new aircraft just like pilots. They would want negotiated rates for the training required and everything that would come with working more than one type of plane.
Aug 14, 2019, 9:28 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Sometimes known as [ARG:6 UNDEFINED]
Posts: 26,692
Aug 14, 2019, 10:53 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
Well, WN has been focusing on larger aircraft (737-800/MAX 8), but the reality is that not all flights in all markets support that size of aircraft. It might do WN well to bring in the A220 to have some additional flexibility, fuel efficiency, and support somewhat smaller markets. The range of the A220 is excellent, so it would support longer, thinner routes.
Aug 14, 2019, 12:59 pm
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,570
Well, WN has been focusing on larger aircraft (737-800/MAX 8), but the reality is that not all flights in all markets support that size of aircraft. It might do WN well to bring in the A220 to have some additional flexibility, fuel efficiency, and support somewhat smaller markets. The range of the A220 is excellent, so it would support longer, thinner routes.
There could actually a *lot* of future growth for WN just inside North America by adding one smaller type to the fleet.
Then again, it could just be a subtle message to Boeing more than any kind of actual plan.
Aug 14, 2019, 7:21 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Aug 14, 2019, 8:26 pm
#12
Ambassador, New England
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Maineiac, USA
Programs: Amtrak, WN RR, Choice
Posts: 2,655
My first thought too - there are seasonal locales (MHT or PWM in the dead of winter come to mind, for example; possibly a southern locale in the dead of summer too) where a regional jet would probably serve the route quite well.
Aug 14, 2019, 11:17 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2016
Location: ATL
Programs: DL GM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,240
My my personal vote would be for the A220 - have only seen pictures of DL’s version (and hopefully will get to ride it next month!) but it seems to provide a good mainline plane experience even with the smaller capacity (which hopefully would help keep WN with an all main line plane fleet). All hypothetically speaking of course.
Aug 15, 2019, 7:32 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 32
Makes sense to me. It’d be similar in some ways to JetBlue’s use of the A320 and E175. I’m not sure how 2 airplane types would work with the non-hub and spoke model of WN but someone could probably figure out how to get the schedules to work. I think a smaller plane could be a way to open up new markets since at this point I think WN pretty much serves almost all the (continental US) airports that can support 737 traffic.
My my personal vote would be for the A220 - have only seen pictures of DL’s version (and hopefully will get to ride it next month!) but it seems to provide a good mainline plane experience even with the smaller capacity (which hopefully would help keep WN with an all main line plane fleet). All hypothetically speaking of course.